UKCRD

It's time for MY 5 Y/O's introduction to HAM radio!!! I was fascinated by radios as a child and would have loved to have a Dad around to teach me about radio comms and listen to the world around me. Gives a child a sense of perspective and a knowledge and understanding that there's a huge world outside of their tiny living space.
In a week or so an old 1976 Sony ICF-5900 shortwave receiver will arrive from eBay and Daddy and Little Man will surf the waves!!! This receiver is only 8 x 9 inches so doesn't need much space so I'm busy creating a mounting spot for it in the back of the JK. My son loves to go out with me and buy fish and chips from the local chippy. We then go and find a cool spot somewhere, often by a lake, where we sit in the back of the JK and scoff that food straight from the paper it's wrapped in. Now we'll scoff fish and chips and surf some short waves at the same time!! Once learnt it will be time to take our HAM license and the world will get to hear Little Man!! Watch out world!!!

UKCRD

No more mobile HAM enthusiasts on here?

PG-JKU

That's great. My dad bought me a Radio Shack shortwave radio kit when I was around 10. Built the thing myself and had a long wire running out the window to the garage. Took years before I took my tech then general license, which needed lots of Morse practice. None of my kids so far show any interest, but I will be setting up my HF station again after a 10 year hiatus. I think it's great that you are introducing your little guy to radio at an early age.

73

VE7WYC

UKCRD

Thanks PG! With the advent of internet radio surfing I wanted to get him into it before it becomes something totally alien. I used to spend hours at not much older than him trying to find stations on an old Sony radio/cassette recorder which looked a lot like the ICF-5900. Hopefully we'll give him some more great memories to look back on and the bonus that I'm really looking forward to using this radio myself!!

UKCRD

And installed!!

UKCRD

Few more pics of the ICF-5900 in situ plus a couple of the now mounted MLS-200 Yaesu external speaker and Wonderwand Widebander antenna, in waiting for the FT-817ND which will install Tuesday.

PG-JKU

Looks.good. so I am guessing it's only used when you are parked.

UKCRD

Exactly. This is our mobile HAM shack. Not for on the move comms! I have the President Harry II mounted up from for that.

PG-JKU

That is awesome. The cupholders are a great touch! Today I will start putting my HF gear together at our cabin. I have a new G5RV going up for my Icom IC745. Have not had time for HF in over 10 years.

PG-JKU

Just looked up the FT-817ND. That is a sweet little rig. Just a question, why that one instead of something with more transmit power? I see it has 5 W max transmit.